NHS operates on wrong body part once a week

A shocking statement by Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt revealed that NHS surgeons operate on the wrong body part once a week.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he told listeners that mistakes are costing the NHS £800million in extra care and legal bills.

The frank discussion heard Mr Hunt admit that 29 NHS trusts have been under-recording the number of errors and near misses made by staff.

As damaging figures are made public, mistakes account for 12,500 patient deaths each year including the case of a woman who had her Fallopian tube removed instead of her appendix.

The report does not make good reading and with another case documented of a patient having the wrong toe amputated, Mr Hunt has ordered hospitals to drastically improve their safety records.

Saying, "This is really a very big moment because we have identified that the key to this is having an open and honest reporting culture".

With all hospitals obliged to report mistakes by staff causing patients to come to harm, a near miss or patient death, Mr Hunt is determined to crack down.

"Unsafe care causes immeasurable harm to patients and their families and also costs the NHS millions in litigation claims".

If you or a member of your family has suffered from medical negligence, call us on 0800 811844 or email our team at compensation@mellorhargreaves.co.uk to discuss a claim.

Mellor Hargreaves Ltd

Medical Negligence Solicitors